PUBLIC FIRE RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED

Due to the continued hot and dry weather, the Douglas Forest Protective Association will impose Public Fire Restrictions, also known as a “Regulated Use Closure” effective 12:01 a.m. Friday, July 1st. The Public Fire Restrictions will be in effect on all 1.6 million acres of private, county, state, and BLM lands protected by DFPA. The Industrial Fire Precaution level (IFPL) will remain at IFPL 1 for the Douglas District.

Under DFPA’s Public Fire Restrictions, the following provisions are set to help prevent wildfires:

Smoking is prohibited while traveling, except in vehicles on improved roads, in boats on the water, and at other designated locations.

Motor vehicles, including motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles, are only allowed on improved roads free of flammable vegetation, except for the culture and harvest of agricultural crops. In addition, each vehicle traveling on forest roads must have a shovel and one gallon of water or one operational 2½ pound or larger fire extinguisher. All-terrain vehicles and motorcycles must be equipped with one operational 2 ½ pound or larger fire extinguisher.

Electric fence controllers must be approved by a nationally recognized testing laboratory or be certified by the Department of Consumer and Business Services, and be installed and used in compliance with the fence controller’s instructions for fire safe operation.

Chain saws may not be used between 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. During other hours, chain saw users must have a shovel and an 8-oz or larger fire extinguisher at the job site, and a one-hour fire watch is required after the saw is shut down.

Mowing of dead or dry grass with power-driven equipment will not be allowed between 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. This restriction does not include mowing of green lawns, or equipment used for the commercial culture and harvest of agricultural crops.

The cutting, grinding or welding of metal will not be allowed between 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. These activities will be allowed during other hours provided the work site is cleared of potentially flammable vegetation and other materials, and a water supply is at the job site.

In addition to DFPA’s Public Fire Restrictions, the following activities are prohibited under ORS 477.512 during a declared fire season:

The use of exploding targets

The use of sky lanterns

The use of tracer ammunition or any bullet with a pyrotechnic charge in its base.

In addition to DFPA’s Public Fire Restrictions, private industrial landowners have the ability to add additional restrictions or complete closures to their land holdings throughout the summer due to the fire danger. Recreational forest users are advised to check with the landowners for the locations they plan to recreate on, before heading to the woods.

For more information about public or industrial fire restrictions on DFPA protected land, call DFPA’s 24 hour information line at 541-672-0379 or visit www.dfpa.net